Saracens to support girls' and women's rugby

Amanda met Hannah Pirnie (hannahpirnie@saracens.net) from Saracens on Tuesday, and discussed how Saracens might be able to help get the girls they coach in their various programmes into clubs. A number of positive things came out of the meeting, several of which individual clubs, coaches, or parental helpers may wish to chase up.

• Saracens run tag sessions for years 5/6 at schools and would like to strengthen club/school links to provide exits for the children. If you have leaflets about what your club offers for girls, send them to Rigby Hse, The Parade, High St, Watford, WD17 1EA, and the community coaches will give them out at the schools near to your clubs.
• Next summer Saracens are looking at a monthly tag league for girls, moving it around to the clubs who are active with girls, so those who did tag in yers 5/6 at schoolcan play tag at the clubs over the summer, ready to join the U12s projects in September. Also maybe a mixed adult/girls tag competitions (along the lines of Ladies link, but more for mums and daughters)Any club interested should contact Hannah direct and discuss.
• Coaches of the women and girls sections from clubs who are in Partnership with Saracens(all except Tring) are reminded that they to can attend the FREE Saracens "coach the coaches" sessions.
• Saracens work with Peter Engledow on a Sports Leaders Programme - if you have any 16-19 players interested they can find out about it thrrough the PDM or directly from Hannah.
• There is a mixed Touch Rugby FE programme as well, so please tell your players who attend an FE college and get them to encourage their friends to go.
• For parents and new volunteers Saracens run a course on how to teach rugby to a class of 30! And a course on how to prepare/coach a tag team and prepare the children for a festival - again contact Hannah.
• Saracens will try and ensure if your club is hosting a tag festival that a club member is there.
• The possibility of a girls matches and forming tunnels before Saracens games was also discussed.